Travel News & Stories

Downton Abbey Hotel

Wed Jan. 28th 2015

Highclere Castle, which plays the role of Downton Abbey on the hit show opened its doors to overnight visitors in February.

Highclere Castle, the English country estate where Downton Abbey is filmed, will be opening an on-site hotel called London Lodge. The estate, built in 1793, has been open to tourists for some time; there are organized Downton-themed tours but this will mark the first time that visitors can stay overnight there.

London Lodge is a smaller property near Highclere Castle on the estate. The process of opening the lodge took two and a half years. Like many old houses, Highclere suffered from some wear and tear over the years and needed some repairs, including a much-needed new roof. And while the period charm is intact, there are modern amenities in the hotel rooms, including TVs, Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and (of course) electric kettles perfect for making that cuppa.